Black-out shade



Feb. 2, 1943. J, s,- APFEL 2,31,0l4

BLACKQUT SHADE Fi1 'd Jan. 1942 El .a

1N VENTOR.

Afro/m67 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE BLACK-OUT SHADE Joseph VAS. vApfel, New York, N, Y.

Application January 1, 1942, Serial No. 425,277r

(Cl. 16o-3,5)

3 Claims.

This invention relates to window shades generally, and more particularly to blackout shades, and has for one of its objects the provision of such a shade which when in lowered position will fully cover the window and prevent any light from escaping therethrough, and when in upper or folded position will be out of View.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a shade having a pair of longitudinal side aps, one on each side of the shade, so as to adapt same for preventing light from escaping from the sides of the shade when same is hung upon a somewhat raised or extended window frame.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a restrictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front view in elevation in lowered position of a shade made in accordance with my improvements;

Figure 2 is a front View of same in raised or folded position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmental perspective view of one upper edge of the shade;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view partly broken away showing the side flaps of the shade embracing the side edges of the window frame from which the said shade is suspended, and

Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6 Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the and comprises a body portion II made of any suitable flexible material such as for instance fabric, oil cloth or the like and whose outer layer or surfaces I2 is preferably of a black color. The said shade material may be wound about and secured at its upper end to a wooden or other strip or bar I3 and may be provided at its bottom end with a pocket I4 to receive a strip or bar I5 which acts as a weight suiiiciently heavy for keeping the shade in lowered position, the said bar I5 may be of wood or any other suitable material.

For readily raising or lowering the shade without the use of any expensive mechanical contrivance, I provide the upper bar I3 with a plurality of spaced apart depending screw eyes I6 and the lower rod or bar I5 with a similar number of 1oops, eyelets or screw eyes II in alinement with the screw eyes I6. Between the row of screw eyes I6 and the row of screw eyes I'I, I provide rows of rings I8 each ring of which is preferably held in aloop or tape I9 glued or otherwise secured to the body II of the curtain or shade I0. The said rings I8 form guides for cords 20 which at one end are secured to the screw eyes II and which pass through the upper screw eyes I6, the extreme right hand cord passing through only one of the said screw eyes I6 while the extreme left hand cord passes through all of the said screw eyes, thus forming means for raising the shade which becomes folded along lines 2| running from side to side of the shade. When the shade is drawn up it may be maintained in said position by tying the cords 20 about suitable means 22 on the wall or on the window frame 23. As shown in Figure 2 when the window shade l0 is fully drawn up it is covered by an apron 24 secured to the top bar I3. The said apron 24 may be of any suitable material and may be of the same or of contrasting color to the hangings, furniture or draperies of the room in which it is hung.

The shade body II is provided with side flaps or extensions 25, the said flaps are preferably made so that they may be readily bent back and enclose or embrace the frame 23 to which the shade bar I3 may be secured by means of screws 26 passing through holes 21 in brackets 28 carried by the bar I3. In order that the said iiaps may be so bent back, I provide longitudinal seams 26a which actas hinges for the said flaps. It will be seen by referring to Figure 5 of the drawing that due to the hinged construction of the side iiaps 25, the sides of the window frame 23 numeral I0 indicates my improved blackout shade 55 may be embraced by said aps thus preventing any light from escaping through or from the sides of the shades.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple yet highly emcient blackout curtain or shade which will fully cover the Windom and thus effectively blackout all light therefrom.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Window shade of thernature described, a foldable body portion made of ilexible'material, a cross bar to which the upper end of the shade is secured, aps at the sides of the shade extending beyond the window opening, means for foldingly raising the said shade, and an apron at the top of the shade for concealing the said shade when in folded raised position.

2. In a window shade of .the nature described, a foldable body portion made of flexible material, a cross bar to which the upper end of the shade is secured, flaps at the sides of the shade extending beyond the window opening, means for foldingly raising the said shade, the said means comprising spaced apart eyelets at the lower end of the shade, alined eyelets at the upper end of the shade, vertical rows of rings secured to the body of the shade in alinement with the eyelets, cords secured to the lower eyelets passing through the rings and through the upper eyelets the ends of the cords extending therebelow for the purpose specified, and an apron at the top of the Vshade for concealing the said shade when ln folded raised position.

3. A blackout Window shade adapted to be secured to a Window frame which extends beyond the Wall, said shade comprising a foldable body portion made of fabric, and hinged foldable aps at the side of said body portions extending beyond the window frame and adapted to be bent over to embrace the side edges of said frame.

JOSEPH S. APFEL. 

